The Pictish clans of ancient Scotland were the ancestors of the first people to use the name Urkuheard. It comes from in the old barony of Urquhart, which is located on Loch Ness in the county of Inverness.

Early Origins of the Urkuheard family

The surname Urkuheard was first found in Elginshire a former county in northeastern Scotland, in the present day Scottish Council Area of Moray, where Galleroch de Urchart "who lived temp. Alexander II" [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print. was granted lands in Cromarty, and Inverness. He held a family seat at the Castle of Urquhart in 1214. "His descendants were "hereditary sheriffs of Cromarty." [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.

Early History of the Urkuheard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Urkuheard research.Another 353 words (25 lines of text) covering the years 1306, 1358, 1611, 1660, 1114, 1759, 1611 and 1660 are included under the topic Early Urkuheard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Urkuheard Spelling Variations

Translation has done much to alter the appearance of many Scottish names. It was a haphazard process that lacked a basic system of rules. Spelling variations were a common result of this process. Urkuheard has appeared Urquhart, Urquhard, Urchard, Orchard and many more.

Early Notables of the Urkuheard family (pre 1700)

Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Urkuheard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Urkuheard family to Ireland

Some of the Urkuheard family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.Another 33 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Urkuheard family to the New World and Oceana

Many Scots left their country to travel to the North American colonies in search of the freedom they could not find at home. Of those who survived the difficult voyage, many found the freedom they so desired. There they could choose their own beliefs and allegiances. Some became United Empire Loyalists and others fought in the American War of Independence. The Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up in the last century have allowed many of these disparate Scots to recover their collective national identity. A search of immigration and passenger ship lists revealed many early settlers bearing the Urkuheard name: Alexander Urquhart who settled in Antigua in 1679; James Urquart settled in Virginia in 1716; Thomas Urquhart settled in Granada in 1776; Donald Urquhart settled in Jamaica in 1745.